CS Magoha Issues Strict Warning to Teachers Ahead of August Polls

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has warned teachers against involvement in partisan politics in the country ahead of the August 9, general polls.

Speaking on Friday, June 24, during the commissioning of a CBC complex at Nyaura Primary School in Kisii county, the CS warned teachers across the country against involvement in partisan party politics, adding that this will impact negatively on the children whom he said do not support any of the political parties.

According to Magoha, teachers can have their preferred political parties but should instead, support them privately and not come out in the public to publicly display their affection for such parties in the full glare of their students.

"I will not allow under my watch to see my staff and teachers getting involved in stupid, partisan politics, it has to stop because children don't have political parties. Those who are tempted can, however, support parties privately but do not go on a public display that you support this and that party. My party is the party of Kenya and children full stop," stated Magoha.

At the same time, CS Magoha lauded Nyamira county saying it was the first to complete CBC classrooms followed by Kisii, the Nyanza region, and Northeastern. Rift Valley has five more classes pending completion out of the 1,705 classes.

Magoha's sentiments were echoed by Interior CS Fred Matiangi'i who had also accompanied him to Kisii.

According to Matiang'i, police and teachers are civil servants and should not be seen involved in petty politics aimed at causing disharmony in the country.

While vowing to protect the image and dignity of the National Police, Matiang'i warned his officers against providing security for criminals disguised as politicians.

His sentiments came after MP Simba Arati claimed some politicians have been planning and causing chaos in Kisii county then laying the blame on their competitors.

Already, the Teachers Service Commission, (TSC) has warned its teachers against getting involved in active and partisan politics.

Through a recent circular to teachers, TSC warned of tough disciplinary action against any of its employees for participating or engaging in any affairs of all political parties.

The commission has, however, disowned a circular doing round on social media sites claiming that the commission had barred teachers from taking part in the recently advertised temporary Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) jobs.

Among the leaders who accompanied Matiangi'i and Magoha to Kisii included; Dagoretti North MP and Kisii governorship candidate Simba Arati, Senate candidate and outgoing Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka, and Nyaribari Chache MP Richard Tong’i.